When it comes to getting the biggest bang for your educational buck, eight school districts in the Lower Hudson Valley are churning out higher test scores at a more reasonable price than the rest of the pack.

The districts that stood above the rest were Westchester's Ardsley, Eastchester, Pleasantville, Rye and Somers, and Rockland's Clarkstown, Nanuet and Pearl River.

An analysis by The Journal News of state test scores and tax bills found that these school systems not only outperformed all districts that cost less, but also outscored several that cost more. They also outperformed the regional averages on these measures.

The Journal News identified the districts based specifically on each one's average residential tax bill and performance on 18 state tests across the curriculum in grades three through 12 for the 52 school districts that have kindergarten through 12th grade.

In the past few months, reporters spent time in these eight districts, exploring how they work to boost test scores while striving to keep taxes relatively reasonable. Common threads uniting these districts include a focus on individualized student attention, extensive teacher training and an eye toward innovation.